Miley Cyrus gets pro-gay tattoo, starts a Twitter war

Miley Cyrus has gone on record in support of gay rights in the past, but this time she went with a decidedly more permanent statement. Last Friday, the singer tweeted a photo of her new tattoo, an equal sign on her right ringer finger, with the caption “All LOVE is equal.” In a year where the “It Gets Better” videos have served as a very formal, very scripted (and, yes, very powerful) beacon of the gay rights landscape, Cyrus’s subtle nod is a quirky (and dare I even say refreshing?) political affirmation. If nothing else, she is, in her own way, breathing new life into the debate with the kind of nonchalance that only an 18-year-old can. Unfortunately for Miss Miley, announcing her new art didn’t turn out to be all peace, love, and rainbows.

Shortly after Cyrus showed off her ink, one of her followers, named @MileyCyrusLuver, tried to engage the pop star in a theology debate by citing Bible verses against homosexuality. Cyrus kept her rebuttal short: “Where does it say in the bible to judge others? Oh right. It doesn’t. GOD is the only judge honey.” Alas, the same can’t be said of her strong-minded fans. Over the weekend, a full-scale Twitter battle erupted between her fans, who reportedly went so far as to Tweet death threats against @MileyCyrusLuver. Eventually, Cyrus had to intervene in support of her antagonist, “Dude everyone lay off @MileyCyrusLuver Love u! Everyone is entitled 2 opinions! ‘if u don’t stand 4 something you’ll fall for anything.'”

So, Popwatchers, was Miley being brave in taking this stand, or was she foolish to open up Pandora’s box? Do you respect her for expressing her politics in such an unusual way, or do you think celebrities are best seen and not heard?